USL Feature
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
BRANDON, Fla. – An almost cloudless sky, with the hot sun beating down, greeted opening day for the VSI Tampa Flames this past Sunday.
A few hours earlier, and behind their original schedule, the last of the vast banners bearing the name of the new club and its website address had been draped around the stadium field at J.C. Handly Park, giving the once open field in the center of the facility a more intimate feel. The additional bleachers sat ready on the touchline, and behind the far end’s goals, for the fans that were soon to arrive, while the public address announcer tested his sound system and players milled around, coming in and out of the newly installed trailers that served as dressing rooms.
VSI Head of North American Operations John Mitchell was in his usual jovial mood as he welcomed players and support staff to the Flames’ new home, excited that opening day was finally here.
“Most of it has,” he said, asked if it had gone as he’d expected. “The first game always has physical aspects like putting the pitch up and creating the kind of stadium feel we wanted to have for our players and for our fans, so that’s obviously what we’ve got to develop now. We’ve got a good team, and we’re quite happy with the way everyone has come together.”
Alex Miranda was also in a good mood. A former National Team coordinator for U.S. Soccer, the Flames General Manager was everywhere, making sure everyone knew their role as kickoff approached. Excited to be back in soccer after three years running a business consultancy, Miranda has everything running smoothly, and close to how he and his team envisioned it, as fans and guests start to arrive.
“Very exciting, especially being in this facility,” he said, “a neighborhood park and the way we’ve kind of taken it and converted into this stadium, it’s very exciting.”
Almost as excited as Miranda is Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s Laura Simpson, there as the guest of honor as the new field is officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Today is a day for us to not only learn more about VSI and celebrate the fact that they are here, but also showcasing Brandon,” she said. “Brandon has really become a soccer community and now we’re happy to have VSI here as part of us.”
The field itself, although not quite to the level the club is hoping it to be, is soon populated by players as they begin their warmups, with Flames coach Joel Harrison moving through his starting 11 as they get set for the first action of the season. Harrison doesn’t have a full complement of players available yet, with some still finishing school, but Mitchell is pleased with the talent the club’s been able to gather.
“I think that’s our core product, we’ve got to make sure we get the stuff on the pitch right, and I think Joel’s done a great job with the lads he’s brought together,” Mitchell said. “He’s done a great job, and we’re very happy with that. But football’s football, isn’t it? You want to get off to a good start, if you get off to a good start it gives you momentum, so it would be nice if we get a win today, but I’m sure Ocala Stampede have a different view of that.”
Someone shouts at Harrison as he leaves the field after warmups.
“Joel, how are you feeling?”
“Ask me in two hours!” Harrison shouts back, a big smile on his face.
That smile stays on Harrison’s face five minutes into the game as Jamie McGuinness scores the first goal in the club’s history directly from a corner kick on the left, the ball skipping over diminutive midfielder Eusebio Montoya at the near post as his run distracts Ocala’s goalkeeper to allow the ball to slide into the right side-netting.
Unfortunately for Harrison and his charges, the game soon turns Ocala’s way, as a pair of goals by Carlos Tenorio De Araujo gives the Stampede a 4-2 victory, ending the Flames’ big day on the field disappointingly.
But while the result may not have gone their way, it certainly appeared the Flames and VSI took a big step forward as the club’s overall mission moves ahead.